We are sad to learn about the passing of Sir Billy Boston, aged 92.
He died in hospital overnight on 24 August, just four days after the funeral of his wife, Lady Joan, to whom he had been married for 70 years.
Billy scored 571 tries in 564 appearances in his rugby league career, the second-highest all-time try scorer in the history of the sport, after Brian Bevan.
Many of those were in international rugby league, where he played for Wales, Great Britain and Other Nationalities. He won 32 caps for Great Britain and helped them win the World Cup in 1960, becoming their first black tourist in Australia. He scored a further 53 tries in 28 representative matches for the Lions. His two Other Nationalities caps came in the 1955-56 European Championship, where he scored five tries in two games as he and seven other Welshmen were in the squad as they beat England and France to win that season’s title.
Because of injuries and the fact that Wales played few games throughout his career, Billy only wore a Welsh shirt in a game once, in an uncapped match against France B in 1955. He was, however, later awarded a heritage number and cap by Wales Rugby League, as he was the only person in that particular side not to play a full international for Wales.
Born in Angelina Street in Tiger Bay, Cardiff on 6th August 1934, he went to South Church Street School and played for Cardiff Schools, Boys Clubs of Wales, Wales Youth, the CIACS, Pontypridd and Neath in rugby union. He signed for Wigan while still a teenager for £3,000. It was a good deal for Wigan as Billy went on to score 478 tries in 487 matches for them, helping them to win three of the six Challenge Cup finals they reached in his 15 seasons at the club. He also scored twice in their 1960 Championship final victory to earn Wigan their first title in eight years, and picked up two Lancashire League and one Lancashire Cup winners’ medals.
Towards the end of his career, he played for Blackpool Borough, making his final appearance in 1970. After finishing his playing career, he took over the running of the Griffin Hotel pub near Wigan’s Central Park ground until his retirement.
He has received many accolades since then. The Billy Boston Stand at Central Park was named in his honour. Similarly, the East Stand at the DW Stadium was officially renamed after Billy Boston in 2009. He is in the Wigan, Great Britain and Wales Halls of Fame, and in 1989 was named on the inaugural Welsh Sports Hall of Fame’s ‘Roll of Honour’ and was made MBE for his services to sport in 1986. In 2012, “Sporting Equals” named him in the top ten black sportsmen and women ever. He given a lifetime achievement award by the BBC in 2016. He has a statue dedicated to him at Wigan and is included on the Rugby League statue at Wembley Stadium. In December 2020, he was named as one of three Welsh rugby league players to be honoured with a new statue in Cardiff Bay, the other two being Gus Risman and Clive Sullivan. The statue was unveiled in July 2023. In 2024, a children’s book was written about him in English and Welsh by popular children’s author Jessica Dunrod.
But his final and one of his biggest honours came last year, when he was knighted by the King and became known as Sir William John Boston KBE.
His grandson Wes Davies also went on to play for Wigan and Wales. Wes was just one of a large family, as Billy, who sadly lost his wife, Lady Joan Boston in July this year, leaves children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Wales Rugby League chairman, James Davies, said: “On behalf of everyone at Wales Rugby League, I want to express our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Sir Billy Boston at this incredibly sad time.
“Sir Billy was quite simply a legend of rugby league and one of the greatest sportsmen Wales has ever produced. His achievements on the field speak for themselves, but for those fortunate enough to have met Billy, it was the man behind those achievements who left an equally lasting impression. Despite everything he accomplished, he remained one of the most humble, warm and gracious people you could ever meet.
“For us in Wales, Sir Billy’s legacy will always be particularly special. He was a proud Welshman, a trailblazer who broke down barriers and inspired generations. The path he helped create gave so many others the belief that they too could succeed at the very highest level of our sport.
“My own lasting memory of Billy will always be that wonderful, infectious smile. Seeing that smile when he received his knighthood was an incredibly special moment — one that seemed to light up the world. Equally moving was the tremendous standing ovation he received from the Wigan supporters, captured by Sky Sports. You only had to see Billy’s reaction that day to understand the genuine affection between him and the people of Wigan, and the enormous respect in which he was held throughout rugby league.
“His influence went far beyond tries, appearances, records and trophies. Sir Billy represented the very best of our sport: courage, humility, respect and a love for rugby league and its communities.
“Today, rugby league has lost one of its greatest-ever players, Wales has lost one of its finest sporting sons, and our sport has lost a truly special gentleman.”
Sir William John Boston KBE – 6th August 1934 – 24th August 2026
